“You’re as white as a sheet.” Aunt Magnolia draped an arm around her shoulders. “You need some tea.”
“I’m fine. I’m great, actually.” But she couldn’t manage a smile. In fact, she was dangerously close to bursting into tears again.
“Roman.” Van stood, nodding toward the kitchen door. “You still game for that chess match?”
“Yep.” Roman all but ran from the room after Van.
“They don’t have to go.” Rosemary stared after them. “Really, I-I’m fine...” She took a deep breath. “I told Libby Owens-Baldwin off. Sort of. For me anyway.” So the deep guttural sobs ripping from her chest and spilling out of her didn’t make any sense. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”
“Oh, Rose.” Tansy pulled a chair close and sat beside her. “I can see how confronting your childhood monsters face-to-face might be a little emotional.” She draped an arm along Rosemary’s shoulders. “I wish I’d been there to see it. You’re such a badass.”
“First Dr. Voigt. Now Libby.” Astrid rubbed her hands together. “I’m impressed.”
“Don’t be. I am sobbing in the kitchen.” Rosemary wiped away her tears. “It’s just...” She broke off and shook her head.
“Don’t do that.” Astrid’s voice was gentle. “Don’t shut us out. Together, we can sort this out. Whatever it is.”
“I’m feeling insecure.” Which was true. And an understatement. “I know everything she said was just to make me do this.” She pointed at her face. “And I know she’s full of...shit. So why do I let her get to me?”
“Because she’s been responsible for years of torment?” Astrid suggested.
“Maybe she said something that hit one of your own fears?” Aunt Camellia’s tone was gentle.
“What, exactly, are you feeling insecure about?” Aunt Mags was filling the teakettle with water.
“Life.” She took the tissue Shelby handed her, smiling her thanks when Shelby set the whole box in front of her.
“Been there.” Shelby sat opposite her. “We are our own worst critic.”
Rosemary was pretty sure Libby Owens-Baldwin was right up there, but she only nodded.
“I’ve always... If I want to stay here, in Honey, is that okay? Because I want to stay here? Not for a little while. I want tostayhere.” She twisted the tissue between her hands. “But...am I letting you down? Or getting in the way? Am I disappointing Poppa Tom?”
That led to a moment of absolute silence.
“Rosemary.” Aunt Camellia placed a huge piece of cake on the table in front of her, then ran a hand over Rosemary’s hair. “Sweet girl, you could never disappoint Poppa Tom. Never. And why on earth would you think you’d need to ask if it was okay for you to stay here?”
“Of course we want you to stay.” Astrid was crying then. “I’m pregnant, so I can be as emotional as I want, okay?” She took a tissue. “I never wanted you to leave.”
Rosemary smiled at her sister.
“But we wanted you to be happy, so what sort of sister would I be if I told you to stay?” Astrid blotted at her tears. “A bad sister, that’s what.”
“When you love someone, that’s what you want, Rose. Right? Even if it sucks.” Tansy sniffed and took her hand. “We’ll support whatever you want. But if you’re asking us what we want then, yeah, what Astrid said. You being gone was...horrible.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
Tansy’s words bounced around in her head. They’d held their silence so she’d be happy.Everett.Could that be what he was doing? Or was she so desperate for him to love her, she wanted that to be the case?
“Rosemary.” Even Shelby reached for a tissue now. “For what it’s worth, I’d like you to stay, too. I’d like to get to know you. You’re all my family—but it’s all so new. And wonderful.”
“It is, isn’t it? We are lucky to be Bee Girls.” Rosemary was crying again.
“Always.” Tansy rested her head on Rosemary’s shoulder.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. Any of you.” Rosemary rested her head on Tansy’s. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s enough of that.” Aunt Mags placed a cup of tea in front of her. “You will not apologize for doing what you needed to do to figure out what you wanted. That’s just life, Rose. That’s the way it should be.” She smiled. “Selfishly, I’m delighted that you’re home to stay. As long as that’s what you want.”
“This is what I want.” Rosemary took another tissue. “It’s just, Poppa Tom wanted me to do big things—”
